[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Vedic Index of Names and Subjects](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912) › v1.c3.s16.49 # Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s16.49 Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s16.49 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c3.s16.49](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s16.49) It is natural to attempt to date Janaka by his being a contemporary of Ajātaśatru, and by identifying the latter with the Ajātasattu of the Pāli texts¹¹: this would make the end of the sixth century B.C. the approximate date of Janaka.¹² But it is very doubtful whether this identification can be supported: Ajātaśatru was king of Kāśi, whereas Ajātasattu was king of Magadha, and his only connexion with Kāśi was through his marriage with the daughter of Pasenadi of Kosala.¹³ Moreover, the acceptance of this chronology would be difficult to reconcile with the history of the development of thought; for it would make the rise of Buddhism contemporaneous with the Upaniṣads, whereas it is reasonably certain that the older Upaniṣads preceded Buddhism.¹⁴ Nor do the Vedic texts know anything of Bimbisāra or Pasenadi, or any of the other princes famed in Buddhist records. - [Previous: v1.c3.s16.48](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s16.48) - [Next: v1.c3.s16.50](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s16.50) - [Up: v1.c3.s16](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s16) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s16.49](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s16.49) · Pramāṇa